Indianapolis Colts’ Chuck Pagano Expects to Build Off Last Season

By Michael Terrill

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Indianapolis Colts were able to clinch a postseason berth under first-year head coach Chuck Pagano last season after their dismal performance in 2011. Unfortunately, the Colts were bounced in the first round by the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. Pagano expects Indianapolis to build off last season because the last thing he wants to see is his team take a step backwards.

“We’re going in the right direction, we have the right temperament,” second-year general manager Ryan Grigson said, according to USA Today Sports. “(But) this league’s about competition. You can never smell the roses in this business.”

The Colts believe they are heading down the right path, but it will depend on a few key players to see if the organization will be able to reach the top of the mountain once again. Obviously, Andrew Luck will be essential in leading the offense. However, the defense should be the bigger area of focus this summer. After transition to a 3-4 defense last season, Indianapolis must make big strides in year two to improve on their 26th ranking.

The team is getting younger by the year and Pagano understands he will have to step up his game in order to make sure the younger roster can hang with the big boys. The good news is he will have the help of some veterans, in particular wide receiver Reggie Wayne, to be vocal in the locker room.

“We feel like we can go out there and can get better and have a better outcome this year,” Wayne said, according to USA Today Sports.

It will be interesting to see if the Colts can buy into the system and go deep in the playoffs in 2013.